Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

D. B. CLOSSON.

BOOT 0R SHOE. I No. 396,542. d Patented Jan. 22, 1889 u. PETERS, Fhclo-Lilhagmpber. wmm m n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC DAVID B. CLOSSON, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM B.

RICE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,542, dated January 22, 1889.

Application filed June 18, 1888. Serial No. 277,419, (No model.)

To all ZUhODZ/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID B. OLOSSON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of l\lassachusetts,a citizen of the United States, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to that class of boots or shoes having a front opening extending from the ankle-openiu g downward toward or into the vamp, and the edges of which are secured together by a lacing-cord; and it consists in a Balmoral or laced shoe or boot constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a boot having the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a section thereof enlarged to more fully represent the features of my invention. Fig. 3 is a view of the reverse side of the section represented in Fig. 2. Fig. lis a view of the reverse side of the section represented in Fig. 2, showing a slightly-different lacing.

A represents one part or section of the upper, and A the other, and a the opening between them,which extends from the top opening,-a, of the boot to the upper edge of the vamp a (See Fig. 1.) The sections A A of the upper are connected at the lower end of the opening a by an elastic or yielding connection or piece of elastic or yielding material, B, which, preferably, is placed upon the inside of the upper, and is attached by its edges 1) Z) to the sections A A, respectively. The edges of the sections A A of the upper which are connected by the elastic piece B are secured together by an elastic or yielding cord, 0, which, preferably, is secured at its lower end, 0, by sewing, or in any other desired way, to the shoe, and passed through the eyelet-holes c in the edge of the section A and the eyelet-holes c in the edge of the section A, and its upper end, 0 is also fastened in place. This elastic lacing-cord is represented as continuous and as securing the edges together by horizontal bars upon the outer surface of the shoe, the cord passing diagonally from one pair of eyelets to the next pair in order upon the inside of the shoe; but I would say that I do not confine the invention to this form of lacing, neither do I confine it to the employment of one elastic lacingstrip, as each pair of eyelets may be connected by elastic connections separate or distinct from the others, if desired. This lacing by elastic cord is of apermanent characterthat is, the section of the upper embraced by it and by the elastic piece B does not require to be laced or unlaced to provide an extension of the opening a. for the purpose of putting on or removing the bootrwhile at the same time the effect of an opening is obtained, in that the two sections A A of the upper, being united by the yielding or elastic piece 13, open laterally in relation to each other. The sections A A of the upper are connected with each other above the elastic piece B by means of a lacing-cord, D, in the ordinary way, the lacing-cord being passed through one or both of the upper set of eyelets, 0' 0 which contain a section of the elastic lacing-cord, or through a separate eyelet or eyelets placed immediately above the same, and then through eyelets or over studs in the upper along the edge of the upper part of the opening a. It will be seen that by this construction the effect of a laced boot or shoe is obtained which in reality requires each time the boot is put on or removed the lacing or unlacing of a portion only of the opening, while at the same time the opening not laced yields or opens and closes automatically. Another advantage arising from the construction is, that of neatness in appearance, the lower end of the opening always appearing to be uniformly and regularly laced, the two edges of the upper being brought closely together. Another advantage arises from the fact that the boot is made yielding over the instep to the foot. The elastic piece B also takes the place of the lower end of the ton gueE, the tongue extending from the upper edge of the elastic piece B to the top of the boot.

It will be observed that in order to obtain a sufiicient width of elastic fabric, B, to permit the sections AA of the upper to yield or open sufliciently in relation to each other it is necessary that it be quite wide, and

that it also be secured by its edges to the boot or shoe; also, that this would leave the adjacent edges of the sections A A free to move .in relation to each other were they not secured or tied to each other by the elastic connections or cord 0, which laces or ties the said edges down upon the elastic piece or fabric.

here an upper lacing-cord is used which. is fastened 01' secured at its lower end and is laced or crossed over the studs or through the eyelets from that end, as represented in Figs. 1 2, and 3, I prefer to secure it to the upper by means of a (31*(1SS-l)tl ',f, extended through the end of the cord upon the inside of the shoe, and so as to span the eyelet-hole, (see Fig. 3,) and the upper end of said cord may have a knot or enlargeinei'it to hold or secure the cord when laced by wedging in the recess of the upper stud.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The herein-described Bahnoral or laced boot, having the sections A and A, the edges of which abut, but do not overlap,the lower portions of the said sections being provided with eyelet-holes c c and the upper portions thereof with lacin -studs or eyelet-l1oles,an elastic piece, l5, and elastic cord C, connecting the said lower portions of said sections, a nonelastic lacing cord or cords for the upper portions of said sections, and a tongue, E, covering the space or opening between said sections, substantially as shown and described.

DAVID B. CLOS'SON.

\Vitnesses:

l F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DOLAN. 

